Regent Craft, the Rhode Island-based developer of electric, wing-in-ground effect (WIG) seaglider vessels, said Tuesday that it completed the facility that will anchor its global manufacturing activities.
The 255,000-square-foot site at 1 Seaglider Way in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, will handle end-to-end production for Regent’s 12-passenger Viceroy craft, as well as Squire, its autonomous, hybrid-electric military variant. The company is also developing a 50-100-passenger model, Monarch, that was not mentioned in its news release Tuesday.
“We built this facility the way we build our vessels: with precision, purpose, and an uncompromising commitment to quality and safety,” CEO Billy Thalheimer said in a statement.
Regent said the waterfront facility has dedicated space for structural assembly, integration of the wing, hydrofoil, batteries, and other systems, and test and acceptance activities on the Narragansett Bay. The hydrofoils—essentially underwater airfoils—allow the vessel to rise up for a smooth ride near docks and harbors.
The Viceroy moves fastest when flying in ground effect over open water, with a top speed of about 180 mph. In this mode, the hydrofoils retract within its deep-V hull. The craft can also float like a boat at docks and harbors, fitting into existing infrastructure.
Regent said the production hub is designed for “phased capacity increases” as Viceroy and Squire production ramps up. The company has pledged to create 300 jobs over the next decade with the potential to hire for up to 750 positions, including in manufacturing, engineering, quality assurance, logistics, and operations.
It said Tuesday that its customers include “leading airline and ferry operators worldwide” across six continents, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps, with which it is collaborating under contracts worth about $15 million.
One of the World’s First
Regent’s Viceroy is categorized as a Type A WIG craft and regulated as a maritime vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard, with FAA technical support. It will be operated by maritime captains who secure a type rating. Controls comprise a single lever thrust control and fly-by-wire system. Digital interfaces display moving maps, radar, traffic advisories, and other information.
Regent last year began full-scale prototype testing on the Narragansett Bay and aims to fly with humans on board this year. Envisioned routes include Miami to Bahamas, Palm Beach to Miami, and Boston to Nantucket.
According to Regent, the facility at 1 Seaglider Way is the world’s first production hub for WIG craft. Efforts to produce such a model that is viable long-term have failed.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) has produced a WIG craft called the HESA Bavar 2, which was previously reported to have been deployed to the Strait of Hormuz.
Naval News magazine last year revealed that China too is building a large WIG craft, often referred to in media reports as the “Bohai Sea Monster.” The War Zone’s analysis of more recent images of the Sea Monster concluded it has been equipped with hardpoints for weapons systems.
The U.S. has explored the concept as well. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2022 began studying the WIG “Liberty Lifter,” selecting a design from Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences unit. DARPA completed the work in 2025—rather than build a demonstrator, it is working with the industry to transition the concept to commercial development.
Another company called Universal Hovercraft previously sold plans for a recreational WIG vessel called the Hoverwing, but the firm went bankrupt in 2022.
